Editing Patterson–Gimlin film (section)

==Long-term aftermath==

===Film-related===
[[File:Bigfoot Museum Willow Creek.jpg|thumb|The "Bigfoot Museum" in [[Willow Creek, California]]]]
[[Grover Krantz]] writes that "Patterson had the film developed as soon as possible. At first he thought he had brought in proof of [[Bigfoot]]'s existence and really expected the scientists to accept it. But only a few scientists were willing to even look at the film,"<ref>Krantz, 91</ref> usually at showings at [[scientific organization]]s. These were usually arranged at the behest of zoologist, author, and media figure [[Ivan Sanderson]], a supporter of Patterson's film.<ref name="Regal, 129"/> Seven showings occurred, in Vancouver, [[Manhattan]],<ref>Regal, 105–06</ref> [[The Bronx]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Atlanta]], and Washington, D.C. again (all by the end of 1968); then, later, in [[Beaverton, Oregon]]. Of those who were quoted, most expressed various reservations, although some were willing to say they were intrigued by it.<ref>Hunter & Dahinden, 117–25</ref><ref>Perez (1992), 15–19</ref><ref>Murphy (2009), 53–54</ref><ref>Buhs, 140–43</ref><ref>Daegling, 107–08</ref>

Christopher Murphy wrote, "[[René Dahinden|Dahinden]] traveled to Europe [with the film] in 1971. He visited England, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Russia. Although scientists in these countries were somewhat more open-minded than those in North America, their findings were basically the same . ... A real glimmer of hope, however, emerged [in Russia, where he met Bayanov, Bourtsev, and their associates]."<ref>Murphy (2008), 80–81</ref><ref>McLeod, 134–35</ref><ref>Perez (1992), 15–16</ref><ref>Bayanov, 27–40</ref>

Though there was little scientific interest in the film, Patterson was still able to capitalize on it. He made a deal with the [[BBC]], allowing the use of his footage in a [[docudrama]] made in return for letting him tour with their docudrama, into which he melded material from his own documentary and additional material he and Al DeAtley filmed.<ref>Long, 111, 248, 261–62</ref> This film was shown in local movie houses around the [[Pacific Northwest]] and [[Midwest]].<ref>Long, 263–64</ref><ref>McLeod, 118</ref> A technique commonly used for [[nature film]]s called "[[Four-wall distribution|four-walling]]" was employed, involving heavy local advertising, mostly on TV, of a few days of showings.<ref>Long, 263</ref> It was a modest financial success. Al DeAtley estimated that his 50% of the film's profits amounted to $75,000.<ref name="Long, 265, 424">Long, 265, 424</ref><ref>But Glen Koelling said, "It was my understanding that his [Roger's] brother-in-law made quite a bit of money off that movie. And Roger didn't get his share of it. ... Roger told me, and several other people too, you know, that I trust." (Long, 206) And Bigfoot-book author [[Michael McLeod (author)|Michael McLeod]] concluded similarly. (McLeod, 112:  "A lot of money was coming in (DeAtley has admitted to personally making several hundred thousand dollars from the film), but people close to the action agree that an awful lot was also going out. Whatever money filtered down to Roger Patterson wasn't near enough.")</ref>

The film generated a fair amount of national publicity. Patterson appeared on a few popular TV [[talk show]]s to promote the film and belief in Bigfoot by showing excerpts from it: for instance, on the ''[[Joe Pyne]] Show'' in Los Angeles, in 1967, which covered most of the western US;<ref>Long, 203</ref> on [[Merv Griffin]]'s program, with [[Grover Krantz|Krantz]] offering his analysis of the film; on [[Joey Bishop]]'s talk show,<ref>Long, 258</ref> and also on [[Johnny Carson]]'s ''[[Tonight Show]]''.<ref>M. Place, 139; ''[[National Wildlife magazine]]'', April–May 1968</ref> Articles on the film appeared in ''[[Argosy (magazine)|Argosy]]'',<ref>February 1968</ref> ''[[National Wildlife Magazine]]'',<ref>August 15, 1968</ref> and ''[[Reader's Digest]]''.<ref>January 1969; (reprinted from [[West magazine]], a [[Sunday supplement]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'')</ref>

One radio interview, with Gimlin, by [[Vancouver]]-based Jack Webster in November 1967, was partly recorded by [[John Willison Green|John Green]] and reprinted in [[Loren Coleman]]'s ''Bigfoot!''<ref>Coleman, 83–95</ref> Patterson also appeared on broadcast interviews on local stations near where his film would be shown during his four-walling tour in 1968.<ref>Long, 266</ref>

Patterson subsequently sold overlapping distribution rights for the film to several parties, which resulted in costly legal entanglements.<ref>Long, 308, 325–26</ref><ref>Murphy (2008), 56</ref><ref>Buhs, 191</ref><ref>Regal, 121</ref>

After Patterson's death, Michael McLeod wrote, "With the consent of Al DeAtley and Patricia Patterson, the film distributor Ron Olson took over the operation of Northwest Research ... and changed its name to the North American Wildlife Research Association. ... He worked full-time compiling reports, soliciting volunteers to join the hunt, and organizing several small expeditions. A [[Bigfoot trap]] Olson and his crew built still survives. ... Olson ... continued to lobby the company [American National Enterprises] to produce a Bigfoot film. ... In 1974 ... ANE finally agreed. ... [It was released in 1975,] titled ''Bigfoot: Man or Beast''. [H]e devised a storyline involving members of a Bigfoot research party. Olson spent several years exhibiting the film around the country. He planned to make millions with the film, but says it lost money."<ref>McLeod, 138–40</ref><ref>Buhs, 230</ref><ref name="Wasson, 51–53">Wasson, 51–53</ref><ref>Buhs, 157, describes two prior, less ambitious Bigfoot movies by ANE</ref> Olson is profiled in Barbara Wasson's ''Sasquatch Apparitions''.<ref name="Wasson, 51–53"/>

On November 25, 1974, [[CBS]] broadcast ''Monsters! Mystery or Myth'', a documentary about the [[Loch Ness Monster]] and Bigfoot. It was co-produced by the [[Smithsonian Institution]], which cancelled its contract with the producer the next year. The show attracted 50 million viewers. In 1975, [[Sunn Classic Pictures]] released ''Bigfoot: The Mysterious Monster'' aka ''The Mysterious Monsters'', which remixed parts of ''Monsters! Mystery or Myth'' and another documentary called ''Land Of The Yeti'', and also included footage from the Patterson–Gimlin film.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://sharonahill.com/2019/07/05/the-mysterious-monster-mash|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190706030115/https://sharonahill.com/2019/07/05/the-mysterious-monster-mash/|url-status = dead|archive-date = July 6, 2019|title = The Mysterious Monster Mash of the Mid 1970s: Bigfoot hits prime time TV|date = July 6, 2019}}</ref>

===Filmmaker-related===
Patterson's expensive ($369)<ref>Murphy, 63</ref> [[16 mm film|16 mm]] camera had been rented on May 13 from photographer Harold Mattson<ref name=":0" /> at Sheppard's Camera Shop in Yakima, but he had kept it longer than the contract had stipulated, and an [[arrest warrant]] had been issued for him on October 17;<ref>Long, 167</ref> he was arrested within weeks of his return from Bluff Creek.<ref>McLeod, 112</ref> After Patterson returned the camera in working order, this charge was dismissed, in 1969.<ref>Long, 167, 169</ref>

While Patterson sought publicity, Gimlin was conspicuous by his absence. He only briefly helped to promote the film<ref name="Long, 265">Long, 265</ref> and avoided discussing his Bigfoot encounter publicly for many subsequent years; he turned down requests for interviews.<ref>Coleman, 83</ref> He later reported that he had avoided publicity after Patterson and promoter Al DeAtley had broken their agreement to pay him a one-third share of any profits generated by the film.<ref>Long, 159–160</ref> Another factor was that his wife objected to publicity.

Daegling wrote, "Bigfoot advocates emphasize that Patterson remained an active Bigfoot hunter up until his death."<ref>Daegling, 114</ref><ref>Long, 182, quoting [[John Willison Green|John Green]]</ref><ref>Long, 269–70, quoting Al DeAtley</ref><ref>Regal, 129, writes: "For all his personal flaws and dubious behavior, Patterson seems to have genuinely believed in Bigfoot."</ref> For instance, in 1969, he hired a pair of brothers to travel around in a truck chasing down leads to Bigfoot witnesses and interviewing them.<ref>Long, 406</ref> Later, in December of that year, he was one of those present in [[Bossburg, Washington]], in the aftermath of the [[cripplefoot]] tracks found there.<ref>McLeod, 119–21</ref><ref>Hunter & Dahinden, 152, 154–55, 158</ref><ref>Coleman (2003), 125</ref> [[Grover Krantz|Krantz]] reports that "[a] few years after the film was made, Patterson received a letter from a man ["a US airman stationed in Thailand"<ref>McLeod, 121</ref>] who assured him a Sasquatch was being held in a [[Buddhist monastery]]. Patterson spent most of his remaining money preparing an expedition to retrieve this creature"<ref name="Krantz, 120">Krantz, 120</ref> only to learn it was a hoax. He learned this only after having sent Dennis Jenson fruitlessly to [[Thailand]] (where he concluded that the airman was "mentally unbalanced") and then, after receiving a second untrue letter from the man, going himself to Thailand with Jenson.<ref name="Green (1978), 129">Green (1978), 129</ref><ref name="McLeod, 121–22">McLeod, 121–22</ref>

To obtain money to travel to Thailand, "Patterson called Ron, who had returned to ANE, and sold the company the theatrical rights to the clip for what Olson described as a pretty good sum of money."<ref name="McLeod, 121–22"/>

Patterson died of [[Hodgkin's lymphoma]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Darling|first1=Dylan|title=Big day for Bigfoot believers|url=http://www.redding.com/news/big-day-for-bigfoot-believers|access-date=May 20, 2015|work=[[Redding Record Searchlight]]|date=October 20, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521054015/http://www.redding.com/news/big-day-for-bigfoot-believers|archive-date=May 21, 2015}}</ref> According to [[Michael McLeod (author)|Michael McLeod]],<ref>McLeod, 128</ref> Greg Long,<ref name="Long, 188">Long, 188</ref> and Bill Munns,<ref>Munns, 19</ref> "A few days before Roger died, he told [Bigfoot-book author Peter] [[Pangboche Hand|Byrne]] that in retrospect, ... he [wished he] would have shot the thing [ie killed it] and brought out a body instead of a reel of film." According to [[Grover Krantz]]<ref name="Krantz, 87"/> and [[Robert Michael Pyle|Robert Pyle]],<ref>Pyle, 269</ref> years later, Patterson and Gimlin both agreed they should have tried to kill the creature, both for financial gain and to silence naysayers.

In 1995,<ref>Long, 29</ref> almost three decades after the Patterson–Gimlin filming, Greg Long,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Greg Long – The Making of Bigfoot|url=http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greg_long_the_making_of_bigfoot/|website=[[Point of Inquiry]]|publisher=[[Center for Inquiry]]|access-date=March 17, 2015|date=September 26, 2008|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134803/http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greg_long_the_making_of_bigfoot/|url-status=dead}}</ref> a technical writer for a technology firm who had a hobby of investigating and writing about Northwest mysteries, started years of interviewing people who knew Patterson, some of whom described him as a liar and a [[conman]].
* "Marvin" (pseudonym),<ref>Long, 96–97</ref> Jerry Lee Merritt,<ref>Long, 105, 116, 120, 125, 127, 132</ref> Pat Mason,<ref>Long, 139–44</ref> Glen Koelling,<ref>Long, 198–202, 205, 215</ref> and Bob Swanson<ref>Long, 221–24</ref> suffered financially from their dealings with him, as well as 21 small local creditors who sued Patterson via a [[collection agency]].<ref>Long, 308, 315–17</ref>
* Vilma Radford<ref>Long, 299–313, 317–18</ref> claimed Patterson never repaid a loan made to him for a Bigfoot movie Roger was planning. Radford had corroborative evidence: a $700 [[promissory note]] "for expenses in connection with filming of 'Bigfoot: America's Abominable Snowman.{{'"}}<ref>Long, 300</ref> Patterson had agreed to repay her $850, plus 5 percent of any profits from the movie.
* In 1974, Bob Gimlin, with [[René Dahinden]]'s financial assistance, sued DeAtley and Patterson's widow, Patricia, claiming he had not received his one-third share of the film's proceeds. He won his case in 1976.<ref>Long, 318–21</ref><ref>McLeod, 136–37</ref>